Events

The meeting of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and International Council for Game and Wildlife (CIC) was held from 30 June till 1 July 2014. The meeting was aimed at discussion of issues in reference to early detection and prevention of African swine fever (ASF) and consideration of issues concerning animal health protection at the interface of interactions between wild animals – farm animals – humans.

More than 120 representatives of national and international hunting organizations and national veterinary services from 53 European countries, representatives of the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers, members of the OIE Scientific Commission participated in the meeting. The FGBI “Federal Centre for Animal Health” under the jurisdiction of the Rosselkhoznadzor was represented by Alexandr Kononov, Candidate of Science (Veterinary Medicine).

The spread in some European countries of ASF affecting both domestic and wild animals is the subject of mounting anxiety. The increase in the number of affected countries requires conducting of an awareness campaign, particularly for hunters, in countries with ASF outbreaks as well as in countries under direct risk.

The issue of the harmonized use of OIE standards-based measures against ASF spread, particularly among wild boars, was of higher priority at the meeting. The participants discussed efforts of hunters and veterinary services aimed at the establishment of effective surveillance and systems for early detection of ASF and other diseases involving wild animals.

Presentations of meeting participants were devoted to different aspects of ASF detection, prevention and control among wildlife as well as to accomplishment of consolidated measures against ASF. For instance, Bernard Vallat (OIE Director General) emphasized in his speech the importance of conducting a similar meeting where ASF problem should be discussed not only by veterinary specialists but also by CIC representatives. The critical ASF situation should contribute to the improvement of cooperation between veterinary services and hunting associations of different countries and it would play a positive role in controlling not only ASF but also other diseases.

At the end of the meeting participants formulated major recommendations for ASF early detection and prevention. The recommendations can be found on the OIE official site and they are open to revision by member-countries.

FGBI “ARRIAH” Press Office